offtheedgegardening

Snow Business

After a balmy day at The Prof’s yesterday, scoffing at the Met Office weather warning, I awoke to quite a different morning. Snow! And, although not serious enough to send in the St Bernards, it was severe enough to halt any outdoor adventures for the day and for masoor dhal to be made. I’m notContinue reading “Snow Business”

Six on Saturday – It is what it is

Are we there yet? It seems not quite. It has turned cold again, with threat of frosts and attendant late afternoon greenhouse swaddling. Of course this is how it should be. It is February and even the most season-swindling of us all must admit that, any way you look at it, it is still winter.Continue reading “Six on Saturday – It is what it is”

Holiday

Last week we had a condensed-family holiday in Cornwall. Unfortunately, The Cloggies couldn’t make it and they were missed. In spite of this, it was a wonderful few days away. There were hypnotic sea views and brave/foolish surfers to entertain us. There was frosty sand and nurturing sunshine. There were fish and chips. There wasContinue reading “Holiday”

Six on Saturday – Mizzle

Today’s SoS photos are not what I would like them to be. Firstly, I was going to show you the results of my gardening efforts. Secondly, all shots were to be in focus. What demon thwarted my good intentions, who was my nemesis? Mizzle, that’s what. The grand scheme was to spend the morning pottingContinue reading “Six on Saturday – Mizzle”

Nose to the Grindstone

Yesterday was my first day back to work after my annual winter sabbatical*. After the daunting reality of an unaccustomed early start, the shock to my system was minimal. The Prof and I’s first job was to visit a garden centre, a splendid way to begin my gardening year. There was also lots of coffee,Continue reading “Nose to the Grindstone”

Six on Saturday

We have reached the last SoS in January and, at the risk of wishing my life away, I’m not sorry to see February on the horizon. We’ve still a long way to go before balmy days but I am feeling horticulturally positive this week, as if we have turned a corner. There is no rhymeContinue reading “Six on Saturday”

Six on Saturday – Cool

Deluge, freeze, deluge, freeze, deluge, freeze: what an interesting winter we are having. For the last couple of weeks it has been a mainly monochrome affair, dank and dreary, but the recent frosts have been accompanied by blue skies. Unfortunately, the sun barely touches down in our garden at the moment, just a tantalising glanceContinue reading “Six on Saturday – Cool”

Six on Saturday – Trying

It would be easy for me to dismiss 2022 with a dismissive brush of the hand and no turn of the head. For many this has been a challenging year and when this new one comes along we are all hopeful for change. However, I have a niggling fear, somewhere just left of my spleen,Continue reading “Six on Saturday – Trying”

Just One Little Donkey

I’ve always wanted a donkey, or perhaps two. They are gentle and funny, with a smidgeon of stubbornness and exemplary ears. Fine attributes, indeed. However, it is highly unlikely I will ever get one to called my own, or Derek, or even Desdemona. I haven’t been a terribly good girl this year and, to avoidContinue reading “Just One Little Donkey”

Six on Saturday – Cabbage

It is going to be tricky to feature anything in this Six on Saturday that does not resemble over-cooked cabbage. The ground has not thawed since last week, I am sure I am not alone, and I am resigned to having lost a fair few of my vulnerable plants. This is what happens if youContinue reading “Six on Saturday – Cabbage”